Jennifer L Theis1, Marsha J Finkelstein. 1. Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Allina Health, Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a safe patient handling program (STEPS) at an inpatient rehabilitation unit in reducing injury due to patient transfers. Our objectives were to compare number of staff injuries during the 1.5-year period post training to pre training (baseline) and to determine whether reduction in injuries was sustained long term during a 2.5-year post training period. METHODS: All nursing and therapy staff as well as new hires received STEPS training. Periodic retraining was not provided. FINDINGS: The number of injuries was significantly reduced at post training compared to baseline (p = 0.01). However, the reductions in injuries were not sustained long term. CONCLUSION: We estimated a cost benefit of $3.71 for every dollar invested in retraining based on injury reduction realized during the post training period. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Retraining is likely to have a positive cost benefit when it results in maintaining reduction in staff injuries.
PURPOSE: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a safe patient handling program (STEPS) at an inpatient rehabilitation unit in reducing injury due to patient transfers. Our objectives were to compare number of staff injuries during the 1.5-year period post training to pre training (baseline) and to determine whether reduction in injuries was sustained long term during a 2.5-year post training period. METHODS: All nursing and therapy staff as well as new hires received STEPS training. Periodic retraining was not provided. FINDINGS: The number of injuries was significantly reduced at post training compared to baseline (p = 0.01). However, the reductions in injuries were not sustained long term. CONCLUSION: We estimated a cost benefit of $3.71 for every dollar invested in retraining based on injury reduction realized during the post training period. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Retraining is likely to have a positive cost benefit when it results in maintaining reduction in staff injuries.
Authors: Witold Orlik; Giuseppe Aleo; Thomas Kearns; Jonathan Briody; Jane Wray; Paul Mahon; Mario Gazić; Normela Radoš; Cristina García Vivar; Manuel Lillo Crespo; Catherine Fitzgerald Journal: Med Educ Date: 2022-04-29 Impact factor: 7.647